Ventilating and air-conditioning apparatus



Nov. 24, 1936.

p. A. SARGENT VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aprii 25. 1954 INVENTOR Nov. 24, 1936. D. A. YSARGENT 2,062,042

VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BonM.Ja1:9enL.

Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES VENTILATING AND- AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS Don A. Sargent, Portland, Maine Application April 25, 1934, Serial No. 722,264

6 Claims. (Cl. 257-8) This invention relates to air-conditioning apparatus.

In its fundamental characteristics it somewhat resembles the apparatus designed for a similar purpose, on which United States Patent No. 1,916,907 was issued to me on July 4th, 1933.

In my present conception I have sought to make and have succeeded in making several immovements which differentiate it from my former invention. For instance, in the matter of. humidification my present apparatus is constructed to provide a greater amount of moisture with the expenditure of less power for heat generation than obtained in my previous air-conditioner, this advantage being procured by segreating a small body of water from the main supply tank and applying the heat to this lesser quantity of water, with the result that the latter can be brought to the vaporizing point much more expeditiously and with a largely decreased cost for electric current for heating purposes.

I have provided, means for manually re-filling the supply tank with water, but in instances where water from a service main is available, automatic means for maintaining a constant level of the water is a preferred arrangement.

I have also made in my present apparatus extensive changes in the air-cooling facilities, as I have found that'to appreciably lower the temperature of the air in an ordinary size room a cooling device more or less on the order of the conventional type of refrigerating machine is required. To this end I provide a space in my present apparatus in which a cooling coil, served by a small refrigerating machine, is permanently installed, its use being dispensed with, however, during the colder months of the year.

The air-filtering element of my present device is made of a mineral product and is substantially similar to the corresponding part of my former air-conditioner.

I have adopted a rotary, perforate plate shutter by which I am enabled to restrict the passage-way for air into the conditioner variably.

- The out-door end of my improvedapparatus is so constructed that in its contact with the window no obstruction is offered to fully opening or fully closing the latter; and on each side of the conditioner box, filling the window spaces, are

fillers, these like the box being provided with weather strips which contact the window and window frame parts to make a weather-proofjoint on all sides of the window opening.

lowing specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are employed to identify like parts in all the different views, and in which,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, partly in section, the cover being removed from the conditioner box;

'Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, longitudinally of the conditioner box;

Fig. 3 shows one method of vaporizing the water, the view being partly in section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the air-conditioner showing an alternative form of structure for vaporizing the water, together with a constant water level maintaining mechanism;

Fig. 5 shows a method of heating the tank water by a coil connected with a radiator;

Fig. 6 illustrates the conditioner when employing a jet humidifier operated either by a pump or by service main pressure;

Fig. 7 shows, in an enlarged view, the connection between the conditioner and the window;

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate, respectively, a front and a sectional elevation of the shutter;

Fig. 10 showsan alternative form of structure to retain the device in the window space.

Referring to the drawings, W represents a window sash and S the window space-adjacent which latter the outer end of my apparatus is positioned.

In my fully equipped air-conditioner I employ a double compartment box or container, the compartment I housing a conventional type refrigerating plant (not shown) and the compartment in the box 2 containing the various elements used in treating the air, including heating, cooling and humidifying it. The pipes P. P. extend from the refrigerating plant in compartment I to the .cooling coil C. C. in the box 2. The box in which 4 is compartment I is discarded when the refrigerating plant is not included in the air-conditioning equipment.

At the extreme end of box 2, adjacent the window, I provide a slide-Way 2a in which, if desired, a fly screen 3 may be mounted. The use of a screen is optional and not absolutely essential, as in practice the filtering element may serve both as a screen and as an air cleaner. However, the screen is efllcacious in excluding flies, mosquitoes and certain physical objects suspended in the air.

Furthermore the screen acts to prevent the larger objects entering the screen-box and clogging the filtering element which, as a matter of fact, should be left free to handle the minute particles in the air.

Inwardly of the fly-screen slide-way is a shutter 4, made preferably in the rotary, perforate plate type, equipped with a handle 5 movable inthe slot at in the cover 2b. By actuation of the handle, any degree of opening, from fully opened to fully closed positions of the perforate plate 4 rotating over the perforate back plate 4a may be had. The shutter rotates from a central pivot pin "4b.

Still further'inwardly of the box 2 is an airfiltering element 6, constructed of mineral wool or spun glass. The filtering element is slidably disposed in the slide-way I and may be removed therefrom through a slot 8 in the cover by grasping. the lugs 9.

A motor I0, equipped with a fan-wheel drafts air from the outside into the interior of the box 2, forcing the air through the cooling coil C. C. and heater [2, thence through an opening l3 in the water tank l4 and the grill I5 into the interior space in the room.

It will be observed that the air travels in a very direct and straightforward course through the box 2 thereby increasing the distance to which it may be projected into the room.

One of the features characterizing my present invention pertains to the method of humidifying the filtered alrbefore being blasted into the interior space.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I illustrate what I designate as my percolating system of humidification. It embodies the use of a small, shallow tank It having interior communication with the large tank |4 through the opening ll. 7

Within tank I6 is an electric heating unit I8, surrounding and spaced from'which is a casing l9 with a hole 20 in its end. a

Rising from the casing I9 is a small percolator tube 2| disposed within a pipe 22 the lower end of which opens into the tank l6. An annular space 23 is thus formed between the tube 2| and pipe 22 through which the water rises from tank l6. outwardly of the pipe 22 is an insulating material 24. I

The wall. Me of the tank i4 is cut away at 25, and over the top of the tank and downwardly on its rearward side is mounted a vapor deflector 26 which directs the vapor, rising from the percolator, into opening IS in the tank. An electric heating unit 21 is or may be placed in the water in tank I4 to slightly warm it before entering tank l6.

In operation, the slightly warmed water in tank l4 passes through the opening l'l into tank |6, and a portion. thereof rises into the annular space 23. The remainder of the water in tank l6 passes through the opening 20 into immediate and direct contact with the heating unit by which it-is intensely heated. The quantity or body of water is so small that violent ebullition takes p1ace,'producing a large amount of vapor and spray which is projected into the interior of the deflector member 26 and through the opening I3 into the room, through the action of the fan-wheel II.

More or less of the water in the percolator tube 2| boils over, so to speak, and while the vapor rises, the liquid portion falls on to the header 25a and drains back into the tank l4.

- The water which overflows from the percolator ing to the percolator vapor in humidifying the air.

- A modification of the foregoing method of segregating a small body of the water for intensive heating is illustrated in Fig. 4whereln is shown a small open top tank 29 having interior communication with the main tank |4 through be manually filled by removing the cap I41) and using a ladle or bucket; or, if a water service main is accessible, the pipe line may be connected to the tank and by the use of valve I41) it may be filled whenever required.

In case a steam or hot-water radiator R is located near the window equipped with the airconditioner a very simple method of heating the tankwater is to mount a coil Z, as seen in Fig. 5, within the tank and make connections to the radiator section nearest thereto.

In certain instances it might be found necessary, in order to supply a sufllcient output of moisture, to employ a small atomizer or jet type humidifying element to augment the vapor procured through the heating method.

In Fig. 6, the jet humidifier is shown at 34 and at M is a connection which extends to the main ,water service pipe; W. P. represents a water pump haying on its suction end direct connec-.-

tion, through pipe |4c, to the tank l4 and a branch connection 14d to the drip pan 35.

The pipe 36 is a waste pipe employed to carry off the drippings from the cooling coil C. C. when de-frosting it. When the fan-wheel is being rotated at maximunispeed, the blast of air impacting with considerable force on the coil largely eliminates the super accumulation of ice thereon, and de-frosting is but seldom required. But the motorand fan-wheel frequently are operated on reduced speeds and conditions are then such as to require clearingthe coils of superfluous ice, occasionally.

The de-frosting operation is easily performed bystopping the flow of the refrigerant to the cooling coils, reversing the direction of rotation of the'motor and fan-wheel, and turning on the current to the heater l2. The hot air quickly accomplishes the object sought, the water dripping and falling into the pan 3!.

7 Now by closing valves 31 and 38 and opening valves 39 and 40 the water in.the drip pan may be forced by the pumpw. P. through the waste b clutch mechanism Ina operating from the motor shaft puts the pump into and out of operation.

, In case the jet humidifier I4 is operated by water under pressure from a service linepipe'M, the valve 38 is closed and the valve 42 opened. But if it is desiredto spray slightly warmed water through the atomizer element then the valves 31 and 38 are opened and the valves a,

40 and 42 are closed, and water from the tank I 4 will pass directly to the water pump W. P. and from there to the member 34.

. to carry off the water from the melted ice. A

The apparatus is secured in any approved manher to the window frame casing, as by brackets 43, and preferably by a supporting standard 44, or in any other suitable manner.

In my present conception the end of the box 2 has an outwardly extending flange (see Fig. 7) to which a 'thin strip of pliable material 46, such as felt, and another thicker strip 41 of the same material are secured, a plate 48 topping the latter strip and by means of bolts or rivets 49 binding the parts togetherto provide a weather-proof joint on the window sash and around the window frame.

It will be noted that, when the window is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 7 it bonds the strip 46 into angular form. The free end of this strip, or the downwardly extending part, due to resistance of the bending stress, exerts a constant pressure on the sash. thereby insuring a tighter weather joint. With the foregoing construction the window may be fully opened or fully closed. i 1

On each side of theapparatus, adjacent the window sash is a filler F, made in the form of plates which close these spaces against entrance of air from the outside into the room. The same general construction with respect to the felt weather-proof strips is'carried out on all sides of the fillers, so that air can enter the room through the box 2 only.-

In Fig. 10, I show a slightly different stru ture for securing the apparatus in the window space. In this instance the box 2 is not secured to any part of the window frame but is simply hung on a cross member which is fixed. The,- box, therefore, may be removed from its position by raising it bodily and then withdrawing it from location adjacent the window space.

The structure embodies an angle iron 50 held in position by a thin plate 5| which is bent around its horizontal leg 50a, the plate extending from side to side of the window frame and has To further strengthen and stiffen the structure,

another plate 52 is positioned inwardly of the plate 5| in close contact therewith, an outwardly projecting flange 52a folding over the flange 5la,

at the bottom, and bending upon itself at the top to form a rail 52b.

On the box 2 is secured 2. lug 53 having a depending ledge 53a, the latter interlocking with the part 52b to prevent inward displacement of the box which is mainly supported by the window stool X.

A felt Weatherstrip 54' extends the full length of the window stool and up each end of the filler elements, and the weather-joint construction adjacent the window sash is substantially like that employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7. The members Stand 52 are secured to the window stools and casings by screws 55.

In the foregoing description of my improved ventilating and air-conditioning apparatus I have deemed it unnecesary to describe in detail the various elements, such as switches, thermostats, rheostats, etc., used to control and put into action the several electrical units employed in the apparatus. V

One of these elements, however, made in the form of a reversing switch R. 8., although a conventional device, is quite important, as by it the current to the electric motor which drives the fan-wheel may be reversed, rotating the motor in two directions. Thus when the direction of the fan-wheel is such that it draws air into the box from the indoor end, it serves to very quickly and effectively clear a room filled with smoke or disagreeable odors, the latter being forced through the box into the outside atmosphere] Briefly stated, my device is capable of supplying filtered air for an interior space, previously screened if desired. After being cleaned itis susceptible of treatment in various ways, as heating, cooling and humidifying, the latter operation being conducted by segregating a small body of water from the main supply and applying heat to this smaller quantity.

Control over the amount of air to be admitted to the interior, the speed at which it is delivered thereto, and the extent to which the filtered air is moistened are matters which the hereinbefore prising a box having an air passageway therethrough, an air-filtering element, made of mineral substances, removably disposed in said box,

a motor, air-impelling means to draft air through said air-filtering element, an an; heater, a small water-vaporizing tank, means for supplying water and maintaining a constant level thereof in said small tank, an atomizing element disposed in said box adjacent and forwardly of said air heater, a water pump, actuated by said motor, adapted to draw water from said watersupply means and force it through said atomizer element, and a heater for said vaporizing tank.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a box'adapted to be positioned in a room abreast of a window space therein, an air-filtering element in said box, a motor, a cooling coil; a drip-pan beneath said cooling coil, a pump, actuated by said motor, making connection with said drip-pan, whereby the contents,during defrosting operations, may be drawn therefrom by said pump and disposed of outwardly of said box, means to engage and disengage said pump from said motor, and a fan-wheel, driven by the said motor, adapted to draft the air through said air-filtering element, force it into impingement with said cooling coil and cause it to be circulated in the interior space in the room as filtered and cooled air.

3. An air-conditioning apparatus adapted to be positioned in the window space in a room, comprising a two-compartment box, one of said compartments housing a refrigerating plant, a cooling coil in the other of said compartments, pipes carrying a refrigerant, extending from the refrigerating plant to said cooling coil, an airflltering element in the last mentioned compartment of said box, a heater disposed in advance of said cooling coil, a shutter positioned in arrear of said air-filtering element, and air-impelling means adapted bdth to draft outside air into said box, through said air-filtering element and through said cooling coil into the room to lower the temperature of the air therein, said heater being at this time inactive, and,.upon the reversal'in the direction of rotation of said airimpelling means, to draw air from the room, through said heater, at this time active, on to said coil.

4. An air-conditioning apparatus adapted to be positioned in a window space having a sash therefor, comprising a box the rearward end of which is disposed in the window space in contiguous relation to said sash, a flange extending outwardly from the rearward end of said box, a

felt strip secured to said flange, a second and thicker strip of felt superimposed on said first mentioned strip and abutting on the inner face of said sash when abreast the lower-cross rail thereof, said first mentioned strip extending, normally, beneath the sash, but so formed as to bend into angular form upon lowering the sash, providing a yieldable, tensional contact of the vertical portion of the felt strip with the sash and permitting the latter to be moved into either of its extreme positions, a slide-way adjacent the rearward end of the .box, a screen in said slide-way, a rotary, perforate plate shutter disposed forwardly of said screen, an air-filtering element, means to draft air into and project it out of said box, a water-segregating tank adapted to predeterminately establish the maximum amount. of water under continuous vaporization, and a heater for said segregated water tank.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising an open end box adapted to be positioned in a window frame having a stool therefor, one end of said box resting on but unattached to said stool, a cross member interconnecting opposite sides of the window frame, a lug, having a depending ledge thereon, secured on the end of said box adjacent said window frame, said lug adapted to engage said cross member for the 'level in said segregated water tank, and a heater in said last mentioned tank adapted to vaporize the water thereinjfor humidiflcation purposes,

the vapor rising in said box and commingling with the air being drafted therethrough.

6. A ventilating and air-conditioning apparatus one end of which isadapted to be, posiv tloned within a window frame, comprising an open-end box through which air may flow from the outside atmosphere into an interior space,

a shutter to control, either to admit or exclude,

the passage ,of air through said box, a filtering element through which air passes in its course through the box, a cross member secured to and extending from one to the other of the upright members of said window frame, and box-attaching means on the out-door end of the box adapted to engage and hold said box against inward displacement from its position in said window frame, said means being automatically released upon raising said box.

' DON A. SARGENT. 

